Apparatus for providing living beings with absorbable implants

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for providing a living being with an implant which is absorbed into the body. The implant is situated in the body adjacent the outer skin. The implant is injected in a liquid, molten condition, but assumes a solid condition at body temperature. The composition of the implant is such that the implant will be absorbed by the body at a greater rate when the temperature of the implant is increased. By situating the implant adjacent the outer skin it is possible to elevate the temperature at the outer skin so as to increase the rapidity with which the implant is absorbed by the body. A syringe which contains the implant in solid condition is provided with a heating structure which is operated for the purpose of converting the composition into a liquid molten condition in preparation for injecting the composition into body tissue.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a division of copending application Ser. No.693,134, filed June 7, 1976, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,030,449 which is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 537,572, filed Dec. 30,1974, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,982,537.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to implants of the type which are adaptedto be situated in the body of a living being.

In particular, the present invention relates to implants, thecomposition of which is such that the implants can be absorbed by thebody.

Thus, for health purposes the implant may take the form of a drug,medicament (including anesthetics), or nutrient in a carrier which at anelevated temperature will assume a molten, flowable conditionfacilitating injection of the composition, with the carrier assuming asolid condition at body temperature so that after injection thecomposition solidifies to be gradually absorbed by the body whilereleasing the nutrient or drug which is in particulate form anddispersed in the carrier.

However, it is also possible to provide implants for cosmetic purposes,solely in order to change the appearance of an individual in a favorablemanner. Such an implant also is capable of being absorbed by the body sothat the change in appearance is only temporary.

One of the problems encountered with implants of the above type is inconnection with the rate at which the implant is absorbed by the body.Although implants of the above general type can be situated in the bodyin accordance with teachings of the above copending application, thereare certain situations where it is desired to regulate the rate ofabsorption of the implant, and at the present time such control of therate of absorption cannot be provided. For example in the case of adrug, mecicament, or nutrient, a physician may wish the drug, medicant,or nutrient to be absorbed by the body initially at a relatively rapidrate and thereafter at a slower rate. In the case of a cosmetic implant,after the implant has been introduced into the body tissue, theparticular individual who has the implant may be unhappy with theappearance provided by way of the implant, and therefore, it may behighly desirable to be able to absorb the implant rapidly into the bodyso as to eliminate the change in appearance provided thereby.

A further problem encountered with implants of the general type is inconnection with the structure utilized for injecting the implant intothe body. At the present time, for example, it is necessary to elevatethe temperature of the implant material so that it will assume a moltencondition, and then this material must be handled very rapidly duringinjection in order to be sure that the implant material does notsolidify prior to reaching the desired location in the body tissue.Furthermore, it is difficult to provide a predetermined temperature forthe implant during the time when it is injected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provideapparatus for avoiding the above drawbacks.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to situate anabsorbable implant in body tissue in such a way that the temperature ofthe implant can be very conveniently regulated in order to control therapidity with which the implant is absorbed by the body.

Also it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatuswhich makes it possible very conveniently to introduce the implant at apreselected temperature into the body while maintaining this temperatureat a value at which the implant is in proper molten condition while itis injected.

According to the invention, the composition which forms the implant isinjected into the body adjacent the outer skin, so that it assumes asolidified condition adjacent the outer skin. Then it is an extremelysimple matter to elevate the temperature at the outer skin, as, forexample, by applying a heating pad thereto, so that because of theproximity of the implant to the outer skin, the implant will respond tothe increase in temperature of the outer skin in order to assume also anelevated temperature which will greatly reduce the time required forabsorption of the implant by the body.

In addition, with the apparatus of the invention a syringe meanscontains the implant composition in solidified form and has connectedthereto a heating means which can be operated for providing the moltencondition for the implant composition so that it can be convenientlyinjected by the syringe means into the body tissue.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings which form part of this application and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional illustration of one possible embodimentof a structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional illustration of another embodiment ofthe structure of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates in a sectional elevation a third embodiment of astructure according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation schematically illustrating a stillfurther embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 5-7 respectively illustrate different embodiments of indicatingstructures for indicating the temperature of the composition which isinjected;

FIG. 8 shows a detail of a barrel structure of a syringe which is highlyeffective for maintaining a desired temperature in a composition;

FIG. 9 shows yet another embodiment of the structure at the region ofthe needle and barrel and capable of having a good thermal insulationwhile also providing desired heat at the composition which is to beinjected; and

FIG. 10 illustrates a still further embodiment of the structure of theinvention for achieving good thermal insulation while at the same timeproviding a good heat transmission to the composition which is injected.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As has already been indicated in the above patent, there are a number ofdifferent compositions capable of being injected into the body to assumea solid condition therein while the injection takes place with thecomposition in a molten form. The term "molten" as used herein signifiesthat the composition which is solid at body temperature can assume at atemperature somewhat above body temperature an injectable, flowablecondition in which the composition can be in liquid or in a semiliquid,highly viscous form. These compositions include materials such as waxes,hydrogenated oil, or the like, which are capable of being absorbedwithout harm by the body, and which also assume a solid condition in thebody while capable of being elevated to a temperature at which thesematerials are in a molten form to facilitate their injection into thebody. Such materials may be used by themselves for cosmetic purposes inorder to change the configuration of a part of the body so as to changethe appearance thereof in a desirable manner, or such materials may beused as carries for an agent, in particulate form, for example, foraffecting the health of the individual, such an agent being a suitabledrug, medicament, anesthetic or nutrient, for example. Thus, the agentis dissolved in or distributed in particulate form throughout thecarrier material which can be elevated to assume a liquid or semiliquidform and then injected to become implanted and solidify in the body.

As has been indicated above, it is highly desirable under someconditions to increase the rapidity with which the implant is absorbedby the body. For example, in the case of a cosmetic implant, if theindividual is unhappy with the implant, it is desirable to be able todisperse the implant into the body very rapidly. In the case of animplant in the form, for example, of an anesthetic, medication drug ornutrient, the physician may desire the initial dosage to be relativelyhigh and then to be followed by a reduced dosage. This would requireinitial absorption at an elevated rate by the body and then subsequentabsorption at a reduced rate.

In order to achieve results of the above type in accordance with theinvention, the implant is injected in molten condition into the body ata location which is close to the exterior skin. Thus the implant willassume a solidified form in body tissue which is close enough to theouter skin to be influenced by an elevation of temperature at the outerskin. Thereafter, when the implant has assumed the solidified condition,if it is desired to increase the rate of absorption of the implant, itis only necessary to elevate the temperature of the skin. This canconveniently be done in any suitable way such as, for example, byapplying a heating pad to the skin adjacent the location of the implant.Thus, when the temperature of the outer skin rises as a result ofapplication of a heating pad or the like to the outer skin, the increasein temperature is transmitted through the body tissue to the implant tohasten the rate at which the latter is absorbed by the body. Thus itbecomes possible in this way to increase, for example, during an initialinterval of a few days subsequent to implanting, the rate at which theimplant is absorbed. The added heat provided at the outer skin istransmitted to the implant to cause the latter to assume its molten format which it is absorbed much more rapidly then when in solid form. Inthis way a medication or nutrient can be more rapidly absorbed by thebody whenever heat is applied to the outer skin. Also if a cosmeticimplant is undesired, as when in individual is unhappy with the changein the appearance resulting from the implant, it is a simple matter toapply heat to the body in order to increase the rate with which theimplant will be absorbed by the body and thus will disappear.

A further advantage of the invention resides in the fact that theincrease in heat of the tissue at the region of the implant willincrease the blood circulation at the region of the implant, so that inthe case of an implant which contains an agent which affects the healthof the individual, such as a medication or nutrient, the latter agent isdispersed into blood which flows at an increased rate due to theincrease in body temperature, and thus the distribution of the agentthroughout the body is enhanced by these procedures.

One possible embodiment of the invention for facilitating introductionof the implant into tissue of the body is illustrated in FIG. 1. Thus,referring to FIG. 1, there is shown therein a syringe means 12 whichincludes a barrel 14 to which a needle 16 is connected in a well knownmanner. In accordance with the invention both the barrel member 14 andthe needle member 16 are surrounded by an electrical heating coil 18which can take the form of a suitable wire, although it also can takethe form of a suitably electrically conductive film which becomes heatedwhen conducting electricity. Of course the electrically conductiveheating means 18 can be suitably insulated. If desired, a thermostatmeans 20 can be electrically connected with the electrical coil 18 so asto control the temperature thereof. The electrical coil 18 can beconnected to a power source 22 such as a suitable battery, wall outletor the like, with a control switch 24 being provided as illustrated. Asis shown in phantom lines in FIG. 1, the battery 26 which can also formthe power source may be situated within the barrel adjacent the outerend thereof in a manner which will not interfere with the operation ofthe plunger 28. In addition, the plunger 28 may carry in an electricallyinsulated manner a switch-operating element 30 connected by wire 29 tobattery 26 and capable, in response to movement of the plunger orturning thereof, of engaging another switch element 31 for closing thecircuit through the coil.

Before the plunger 28 is introduced into the barrel 14, the composition32 which is to be injected is initially situated in the barrel. Thus theopen end of the needle 16 may be closed in any suitable way and asuitable amount of composition 32 may be poured into the barrel afterthe composition 32 has been elevated to a temperature sufficient toassume a molten condition. Then the composition 32 can solidify withinthe barrel as illustrated in FIG. 1, and the plunger 28 assembled withthe barrel so that the parts will have the condition shown in FIG. 1.

The assembly shown in FIG. 1, may be sold in the condition illustrated.

With the parts in the condition shown in FIG. 1, it is only necessary toenergize the coil 18 so as to elevate the temperature thereof, so as torender the composition 32 molten, and then the plunger 28 can beoperated to inject the molten composition into the body. Thus throughthis exceedingly convenient construction it is possible in a veryeffective manner to introduce the composition in molten condition intothe body, and of course it is possible to control the temperature by wayof the thermostat means 20 if desired.

In the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIG. 2 thereis a syringe means 32 having a suitable injecting needle 34 operativelyconnected with a barrel 36 made of any suitable material. An outerfluid-tight jacket 38 surrounds the barrel member 36 and that part ofthe needle 34 which is connected with the barrel member. FIG. 2 alsoshows the composition 40 which is situated in a solid condition withinthe barrel 36 in advance of a second composition 41 which withcomposition 40 can be acted upon by the plunger 42 when the compositions40 and 41 are rendered molten upon increasing the temperature thereof.Thus it is possible to introduce into the body tissue in one operation aplurality of drugs, medicaments, nutrients, or the like. The jacket 38defines with the barrel 36 and the illustrated part of the needle 34connected to the barrel 36 a hollow interior space 44 fluid-tightlyclosed off from the outer atmosphere and containing a thermal mass whichchanges its phase at the temperature at which the compositions 40 and 41assume their molten condition. Thus, the nature of the mass 44 is suchthat it will change from solid to liquid form while remaining at aconstant temperature which is the desired temperature at which thecompositions 40 and 41 are maintained in molten form. For example, themass 44 may be made up of various waxes or alloys of metal which areknown to change phase in the above manner at a temperature which isabove the temperature of the human body and sufficient to render thecompositions 40 and 41 molten while still being at a temperature lowenough to be received without experiencing any pain by a human being.Thus, with the above structure of FIG. 2, any suitable source of heat isprovided at the jacket 38 at the exterior thereof, such as a suitableheating pad, or the like, with the source of heat being sufficient toraise the temperature of the mass 44 to the temperature at which achange in state occurs. As is well known, during the change of statesuch a mass will reliably remain very accurately at the predeterminedtemperature, and thus it is possible in this way to regulate veryprecisely the temperature of the compositions 40 and 41 at which theyare maintained in a molten condition for injection into the body.

While in the above-described embodiments of the invention, the heatingmeans is shown at the exterior of the syringe means, in the embodimentof FIG. 3, the heating means is situated in the interior thereof. Thus,FIG. 3 shows a syringe means 46 having a barrel 48 and needle 50 whichmay be the same as the barrel and needle of the above-describedembodiments. A plunger 52 is situated in the barrel 48, and in advanceof the plunger there is situated the injectable composition 54 whichafter being introduced in the manner described above in liquid form willsolidify to remain solid at room temperature.

However, with the construction if FIG. 3, there is also situated withinthe barrel 48, prior to pouring of the composition 54 into the barrel anelectrical heating coil 56. Part of this coil may be extended through asuitable bore formed in the plunger 52, as illustrated in FIG. 3, whenthe plunger 52 is introduced into the barrel 48, so that a wire portion58 of the coil 56 will extend outwardly beyond the plunger to beconnected to a suitable power source. Thus, by energizing the heatingcoil 56 it is possible to transfer directly the heat to the composition54 so as to place the latter in its molten condition. In this case, thebarrel 40 is preferably made of an electrical as well as thermalinsulating material, and if desired the needle 50 may also be made of anelectrically insulating as well as thermally insulating material.

The nature of the coil 56 is such that it is readily compressed inresponse to advancing of the plunger toward the needle, so that therewil be no substantial resistance to discharge of the molten composition54 into the body after the composition is heated upon energizing of thecoil 56.

As a further feature of the invention shown in FIG. 3, part of the coilwill have a wire loop portion 60 extending into the interior of theneedle 50, so that heat will be transmitted from the loop portion 60 tothe composition as it flows through the needle into the body, thusachieving an extremely effective manner for maintaining a desiredtemperature of the composition while it is injected. Of course the wireused for the coil 56 and the loop 60 which extends into the needle issmall enough in diameter to leave in the needle 50 a sufficient freespace for substantially unrestricted flow of the composition into thebody. If desired, an electrical insulation in the form of a coating orvarnish or the like may be situated at the exterior of the wire coil inorder to electrically insulate the latter.

The embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in FIG. 4 isexceedingly convenient inasmuch as it requires no outside source ofpower. According to this embodiment, there is situated at the exteriorof the syringe means 60 a fluid-tight jacket 62 made of a material whichis flexible, such as a suitable rubberized fabric, rubber sheetmaterial, or any insulating plastic material which is fluid-tight andflexible. This outer jacket 62 is fluid-tightly fixed to the barrel 64adjacent the outer end 66 thereof as well as to a part of the needle 68which is joined with the barrel so as to define in this way a hollowinterior space 70. Of course the injectable composition 72 is initiallysituated within the syringe means 60 in the manner described above.

Within the hollow space 70 are situated a reagent 74 as well as a secondreagent 76. The second reagent 76 is separated from reagent 74 by afrangible barrier as by being situated in an initially closed capsule 78made, for example, of a suitable frangible plastic material. Forexample, the reagent 74 may be water while situated within the capsule78 is a reagent 76 which may be sodium hydroxide, for example. Thus withthis construction all the operator need do is deform the flexible jacket62 so as to break the capsule 78 and thus release the reagent 76 whichupon contacting the reagent 74 will react therewith to generate heatwhich will then place the composition 72 in molten condition to enablethe latter to be injected. Of course the selection of the reagent 74 and76 is such that the desired temperature for the composition 72 will beprovided upon breaking of the capsule 78.

FIGS. 5-7 respectively illustrate different constructions suitable forindicating to the operator the temperature at which the composition ismaintained in its molten condition.

Thus, the embodiment of FIG. 5 may be used, for example, with any of theabove embodiments such as those of FIGS. 1 and 3, where the exteriorsurface of the syringe means is available. At the exterior surface ofthe syringe means there is situated a heat-sensitive sheet material 80which has the property of changing its color when the composition 82reaches the temperature at which it assumes its molten condition. Thusthe operator will observe a color change of the sheet material 80 andwill know that it is then time to proceed with injection of thecomposition 82.

With the embodiment of FIG. 6, the plunger 84 carries in its interior athermometer 86. For this purpose the plunger is formed with an axialbore which receives the thermometer 86 with a suitable tight fit, and ofcourse the plunger 84 itself is transparent being made of a materialsuch as lucite, for example. The left end of the bore which receives thethermometer 86 is open, as viewed in FIG. 6, and thetemperature-sensitive end of the thermometer 86 is exposed at this innerend of the plunger to directly engage the composition 88. Thus, with anyof the above-described embodiments of the invention it is possible toprovide a plunger 84 as shown in FIG. 6 with a thermometer which isvisible through the plunger for indicating to the operator thetemperature of the composition 88.

It is also possible to use for similar purposes an arrangement as shownin FIG. 7. According to this construction there is an exteriortemperature-sensitive element 90 of known construction which isconnected by a suitable conductor 92 to a readout device so that in thisway it is possible to indicate to the operator the temperature at theexterior of the barrel of the illustrated syringe means 94. Also thisembodiment may have an axially bored plunger 96 carrying in its interiora conductor 98 which extends to the exterior of the plunger to asuitable readout, and at the inner end of the plunger the conductor 98is connected with an internal temperature-sensitive element 100 whichdirectly engages the composition 102. Thus, with this embodiment of FIG.7, which is used with any of the above-described embodiments, it ispossible to utilize either one or both of the temperature-sensitiveelements 90 and 100 in order to determine the temperature of thecomposition either by the temperature at the exterior of the barrel,when using element 90 alone or by the temperature of the compositionitself, when using element 100 alone, although both of these elementscan be used for indicating the difference in temperature between theinterior and exterior.

A further feature of the invention which is capable of being used withany of the above-described embodiments is shown in FIG. 8. Thus FIG. 8shows part of a barrel 104 of a syringe means, this barrel beingprovided with the threaded portion 106 to receive the needle. In theinterior of the barrel adjacent the location where the needle will bereceived there is a metal insert 108 of high thermal conductivity, madeof copper, for example. This insert 108 has the construction shown inFIG. 8 and is joined to the inner surface of the barrel 104 at theregion where it is connected to the needle by a suitable sealing layer110. In this case the material 108 will effectively conduct heat fromthe composition in the barrel so that heat will be provided at theinsert 108 in a concentrated manner at the junction where thecomposition flows from the barrel into the needle so as to provide anexceedingly effective structure for introducing the composition inmolten form into the body tissue. With the embodiment of FIG. 8 thebarrel 104 can be made of a thermally insulating material.

FIG. 9 shows an embodiment similar to that of FIG. 8 in that in FIG. 9the interior of the barrel 112 has joined thereto by a suitable sealant,for example, a metal insert 114 of high thermal conductivity such as aninsert made, for example, of copper. In accordance with a furtherfeature of the invention this insert is provided with a number of vanes116 to increase the area of contact and the thermal transmission. Thematerial of the insert 114 extends along the interior of the needle 118which may be made of an insulating glass or plastic or which may be inthe form of a suitable plating, the metal insert 114 itself forming theinterior of the needle as illustrated. Thus with this embodiment thetransmission of heat is very effective all the way through the interiorof the needle 118 itself.

Referring now to FIG. 10, there is illustrated therein an embodiment ofthe invention which is similar to FIG. 9 in that the embodiment of FIG.10 also includes in the barrel which is made of a suitable thermallyinsulating material an insert 122 of high thermal conductivity, such asan insert 122 made of copper and also having interior vanes 124 toincrease the surface area and heat transmission. However, in thisembodiment suitable small unillustrated spacers are situated between theinsert and the barrel 120, on the one hand, as well as the needle 126 onthe other hand. In this way there is created between the insert and thesyringe means formed by the barrel 120 and needle 126 an interior airspace 128 which provides an excellent thermal insulation. The outer wallof the needle 126 as well as the barrel 120 can be made of a suitableinsulating material. Of course the injectable composition 130 issituated in the syringe means and upon elevation of the temperature ofthe insert 122, as by being heated from the molten medium 130, forexample, it is possible to provide within the needle the temperature atwhich the compositions assumes a molten condition for easy injectioninto the body tissue. The composition in the barrels of the embodimentsof FIGS. 8-10 can be heated to molten condition in any of the waysdescribed above in connection with FIGS. 1-4, for example.

What is claimed is:
 1. Apparatus for injecting into tissue of a livingbeing at least one composition for affecting the health or appearance ofthe living being, with the composition being solid at the temperature ofthe body of the living being while being injectable in a moltencondition when elevated to a temperature above the body temperature ofthe living being, comprising a syringe means having a hollow interiorcontaining at least one of said compositions in solid form, and heatingmeans operatively connected with said syringe means for elevating thetemperature of the composition therein sufficiently to place saidcomposition in molten injectable condition in preparation for injectingthe composition into the tissue of the living being, said syringe meansincluding a barrel member and a needle member connected therewith andextending from said barrel member, and said heating means beingoperatively connected at least with said needle member for maintainingsaid composition in a molten condition as it flows through said needlemember while the latter is situated at least in part in tissue of theliving being.
 2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said heatingmeans is operatively connected with said needle member at the exteriorthereof for transmitting heat through said needle member to place saidcomposition in molten injectable form.
 3. The combination of claim 2 andwherein said heating means is in the form of a heating coil engaging atleast said needle member at the exterior thereof and being coiled aroundthe latter.
 4. The combination of claim 3 and wherein a thermostat meansis operatively connected with said coil for regulating the temperaturethereof.
 5. The combination of claim 4 and wherein said syringe meansincludes a plunger for displacing the composition when it is in liquid,molten form out of the barrel member and needle member, and said coilbeing an electrical coil, said plunger having connected thereto anelectrical means for completing a circuit through said coil in responseto a given operation of said plunger.
 6. Apparatus for injecting intotissue of a living being at least one composition for affecting thehealth or appearance of the living being, with the composition beingsolid at the temperature of the body of the living being while beinginjectable in a molten condition when elevated to a temperature abovethe body temperature of the living being, comprising a syringe meanshaving a hollow interior containing at least one of said compositions insolid form, and heating means operatively connected with said syringemeans for elevating the temperature of the composition thereinsufficiently to place said composition in molten injectable condition inpreparation for injecting the composision into the tissue of the livingbeing, said syringe means including a barrel member and a needle memberconnected with and extending from said barrel member, and said heatingmeans being operatively connected with at least one of said members,said heating means being operatively connected with said one member atthe exterior thereof for transmitting heat through said one member toplace said composition in molten injectable form, and heating meansincluding a jacket connected to said one member and defining therewith ahollow interior space, said heating means including in said space aheating medium which changes phase while remaining at a constanttemperature.
 7. The combination of claim 1 and wherein said heatingmeans is situated at the interior of said needle member directly inengagement with the composition.
 8. The combination of claim 7 andwherein said heating means is in the form of an electrical heating coilsituated in the interior of said needle and barrel members.
 9. Thecombination of claim 8 and wherein an extension of said coil extendsalong the interior of the needle member.
 10. Apparatus for injectinginto tissue of a living being at least one composition for affecting thehealth or appearance of the living being, with the composition beingsolid at the temperature of the body of the living being while beinginjectable in a molten condition when elevated to a temperature abovethe body temperature of the living being, comprising a syringe meanshaving a hollow interior containing at least one of said compositions insolid form, and heating means operatively connected with said syringemeans for elevating the temperature of the composition thereinsufficiently to place said composition in molten injectable condition inpreparation for injecting the composition into the tissue of the livingbeing, said syringe means including a barrel member and a needle memberconnected with and extending from said barrel member, and said heatingmeans being operatively connected with at least one of said members,said heating means being operatively connected with said one member atthe exterior thereof for transmitting heat through said one member toplace said composition in molten injectable form, said heating meansincluding an outer jacket operatively connected with said one member fordefining therewith a hollow interior space, and said heating meansincluding in said space reagents which react with each other to generateheat, at least one of said reagents being separated from the other by abarrier capable of being broken, and said jacket being flexible toenable the barrier to be broken by deformation of said jacket. 11.Apparatus for injecting into tissue of a living being at least onecomposition for affecting the health or appearance of the living being,with the composition being solid at the temperature of the body of theliving being while being injectable in a molten condition when elevatedto a temperature above the body temperature of the living being,comprising a syringe means having a hollow interior containing at leastone of said compositions in solid form, so that upon transmission ofheat to said composition the latter can have its temperature elevated toan extent sufficient to place the composition in molten injectablecondition in preparation for injecting the composition into the tissueof the living being, and indicating means carried by said syringe meansfor indicating the temperature of said composition.
 12. The combinationof claim 11 and wherein said indicating means is in the form of aheat-sensitive material which changes color and which is carried by saidsyringe means so as to be visible.
 13. The combination of claim 11 andwherein said indicating means is in the form of a thermometer.
 14. Thecombination of claim 13 and wherein said syringe means includes atransparent plunger carrying said thermometer in the interior thereof sothat said thermometer is visible through said plunger and saidthermometer having a temperature-sensitive end engaging the composition.15. The combination of claim 11 and wherein said indicating means is inthe form of an external temperature-sensitive element carried by saidsyringe means and operatively connected to a readout.
 16. Thecombination of claim 11 and wherein said indicating means is in the formof a temperature-sensitive element situated in the interior of saidsyringe means and extending from the interior to the exterior thereoffor providing a readout of the temperature of the composition. 17.Apparatus for injecting into tissue of a living being at least onecomposition for affecting the health or appearance of the living being,with the composition being solid at the temperature of the body of theliving being while being injectable in a molten condition when elevatedto a temperature above the body temperature of the living being,comprising a syringe means having a hollow interior containing at leastone of said compositions in solid form, and heating means operativelyconnected with said syringe means for elevating the temperature of thecomposition therein sufficiently to place said composition in molteninjectable condition in preparation for injecting the composition intothe tissue of the living being, said syringe means including a barrel ofthermally insulating material, said barrel carrying in its interioradjacent a needle of said syringe means a material of high thermalconductivity capable of heated by a molten composition in the barrel.18. The combination of claim 17 and wherein both the barrel and needleare of a thermal insulating material.
 19. The combination of claim 17and wherein said material of high thermal conductivity is copper. 20.The combination of claim 17 and wherein said material of high thermalconductivity is formed with vanes.
 21. The combination of claim 18 andwherein said needle and barrel include a pair of walls separated fromeach other by an insulating air space.
 22. The combination of claim 1and wherein said syringe means contains a plurality of saidcompositions.
 23. The combination of claim 10 and wherein said barrieris in the form of frangible capsule containing said one reagent.
 24. Thecombination of claim 1 and wherein an indicating means is carried bysaid syringe means for indicating the temperature of said composition.